Monty - I know you are a huge Henig Fan....Why was he never given the Belt? I know people like Piper and Snake didnt need one to elevate them but Curt??

I donít know for certain; I can only speculate.

Curt had a ton of momentum by Ď89/í90, helping restore to the I-C belt a lot of the prestige it had lost over the course of the Mountie and Honky Tonk reigns. He also worked in some main event programs with top-card guys like Hogan, Savage, Flair, etc. The AWA put the big belt on him for over a year.Finally, The Life & Times of Mr. Perfect disc set made #1 on the Billboard Recreational Sports DVD sales list itĎs first week, and it was released more than five years following Curtís passing.

Iíd love to know what Vince had in mind for Hennig had he stuck around past 1996. The fact that Vince kept Curt on the roster even when he was unable to perform in the ring suggests to me that Hennig was valuable to the WWF. Maybe when the Lloyds of London policy ceased for whatever reason, Curt was attracted to the big-money lure of WCW.Itís no surprise they didnít know how to best utilize him.

By the time Curt returned to WWF in 2002, he was still hot enough to get a full-time contract following his Royal Rumble appearance, but I think his time had passed.After the scrape with Brock on the plane, Brock was never touched, while Hennig was fired. I think itís a safe bet who they had bigger plans for.

After he completed the angle against KVE i thought for sure he was being primed for a shot at the big belt. When he dropped his IC title to Bret that was the end of one of the greatest performers from any era, he had absolutely every attribute required and was better in every department than just about anyone. 257lbs and could move like a 180lber, he had the mic skills to bury anyone and his image was probably amongst the best ive ever seen. Nobody ever looked better wearing a strap that he did wearing the IC belt.

After he completed the angle against KVE i thought for sure he was being primed for a shot at the big belt. When he dropped his IC title to Bret that was the end of one of the greatest performers from any era, he had absolutely every attribute required and was better in every department than just about anyone. 257lbs and could move like a 180lber, he had the mic skills to bury anyone and his image was probably amongst the best ive ever seen. Nobody ever looked better wearing a strap that he did wearing the IC belt.

I agree on every point.That's why he'll always be my all-time favorite.

I remember his announcement at WMX as special guest ref perfectly, as if in slow motion. When i heard "misterrrrrrrrrrr.........." i managed to run through a variety of possibilities in that split second without once coming up with him. Totally blew me away, i completely marked out (as kids do!) and so stood a moment in time that will forever be with me.

I think I enjoyed Hennig more than any other worker, at any time, in wrestling.He was definitely my favorite in terms of the big picture: ring work, mic skills, look; just overall character.

Some guys are given a gimmick/name, and that gimmick gives them their identity.Curt was given the name Mr. Perfect, but HE gave the gimmick an identity.

Curt Hennig was a lot bigger than any moniker or gimmicky nickname they could give him, primarily because he had so much substance. He was bigger than the gimmick. The mannerisms, attitude, and ring performances would have all been the same if Curtís ring name was Donald Duck!

He simply wore that singlet and didnít need bodyguards, fancy robes, kilts, and bandanas. And, he got so much mileage out of that towel and gum swat; proof that ordinary things can be made to seem EXTRAORDINARY when done by the right person.

I think I enjoyed Hennig more than any other worker, at any time, in wrestling.He was definitely my favorite in terms of the big picture: ring work, mic skills, look; just overall character.

Some guys are given a gimmick/name, and that gimmick gives them their identity.Curt was given the name Mr. Perfect, but HE gave the gimmick an identity.

Curt Hennig was a lot bigger than any moniker or gimmicky nickname they could give him, primarily because he had so much substance. He was bigger than the gimmick. The mannerisms, attitude, and ring performances would have all been the same if Curtís ring name was Donald Duck!

He simply wore that singlet and didnít need bodyguards, fancy robes, kilts, and bandanas. And, he got so much mileage out of that towel and gum swat; proof that ordinary things can be made to seem EXTRAORDINARY when done by the right person.